Pennsylvania’s big budget debate

State Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney blasted the Republican-controlled state Senate’s budget recently, which he characterized in a pRooney’s criticism stems from the fact…

May 11, 2009 at 1:04 pm | Comments (0)

From the grassroots up, calls for a competitive Dem primary threaten to boil over

The dissension among party rank-and-file and liberal activists began almost immediately: Why, people wondered last week, was the Democratic Party settling for a longtime Republican when it could surely do better? That sentiment has only spread in the time since Senator Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats last week.

Now, grassroots demands for a competitive Senate primary are growing louder, and they threaten to embroil Gov. Ed Rendell and the leadership in an intra-party dispute…

May 6, 2009 at 8:50 am | Comments (10)

How school districts beef up during a recession

A little over a week ago, School District Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman presented Philadelphia’s 2010 budget to the School Reform Commission. The budget includes $3.1 billion in operating costs, as well as a $232 million capital budget, and it represents a glimmer of hope in otherwise dark economic times.

The glimmer of hope comes from Gov. Ed Rendell’s 2009-2010 education budget, which increase investments in education and aims to provide college tuition assistance to families…

May 6, 2009 at 6:50 am | Comments (2)

Loose ends: Rendell on Specter and card-check

Thanks to reader “Dan” for pointing out that I missed this interesting clip from Gov. Ed Rendell earlier this week.

The Guv says don’t expect Specter to change his position on card-check anytime soon.

May 1, 2009 at 11:20 am | Comments (0)

Rendell & Torsella: Clearing things up

So there’s been some confusion about exactly what Gov. Ed Rendell has said to Democrat Joe Torsella regarding the Senate race. I’ve reviewed his recent statements, and what seems to have happened is this.

-Rendell, in formal and informal statements, has made it abundantly clear he is behind Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. He has said it would probably be best if Torsella stepped aside.

-But there is no indication, yet, that he…

April 29, 2009 at 10:56 pm | Comments (0)

Torsella: Rendell hasn’t asked me to bow out

Contradicting reports that emerged late Wednesday morning, the Senate campaign of Joe Torsella told pa010.com that Gov. Ed Rendell has not asked Torsella to exit the Democratic primary in favor of Arlen Specter.

Rendell and President Obama have both signaled that they’ll back Specter, who said he would

April 29, 2009 at 3:07 pm | Comments (7)

Sestak seen as most likely to run against Specter in primary

With the Democratic Party seemingly lining up behind Senator Arlen Specter at the state and national levels, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has emerged as the most likely candidate to buck party leaders and run against Specter, party insiders and political analysts say.

While Democrats across the state were issuing statements in support of Specter’s decision to full story

April 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm | Comments (22)

The morning after: Conspiracy theories and names in the air

It could be called the equivalent of the political hangover: A news event rocks the political landscape, and in the process pundits, journalists and insiders throw out so many different hypothetically impending scenarios that it’s hard to keep track of what had merit in reality and what was a pipe dream.

The next morning, it’s all a cesspool of political speculation and innuendo.

The day after Senator Arlen Specter full story

April 29, 2009 at 8:33 am | Comments (4)

Investing in your favorite politician and how it might soon get harder

State Representatives Doug Reichley (R-Berks), Glen Grell (R-Cumberland) and Stan Saylor (R-York) have drafted a proposal to strengthen oversight and accountability of contracts awarded for consultation and litigation in state cases and projects.

The bill was drafted in response to the recent fuss about a legal contract awarded to law firm Bailey Perrin Bailey of Houston. Pennsylvania Republicans are accusing Gov. Ed Rendell of awarding a no-bid contract to the law firm after receiving close…

April 29, 2009 at 2:47 am | Comments (0)

A day—and a decision—that transformed the political landscape

When the sun rose Tuesday morning, all was well. The Democratic Senate primary was a ticked off the conservative base from time to time.

What a difference a day makes.

Specter’s full story

April 28, 2009 at 11:17 pm | Comments (2)